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Gotu kola (Indian pennywort)

Centella asiatica

También llamadaMandukaparni · Brahmi · Gotukola · Indian pennywort · Asiatic pennywort · Chi-hsueh-ts'ao · Rau má

En monografías antiguasHydrocotyle asiatica

A creeping herb of Asian wetlands used for wounds, skin disease and as a 'brain tonic'. Its triterpenes (asiaticoside, madecassoside) are studied for wound and scar healing, and EMA recognises traditional use for minor wounds. Rare cases of liver injury have been reported with oral use.

Ficha completa de historia natural →

Para qué se usa

  • The WHO monograph lists treatment of wounds, ulcerous skin conditions and prevention of keloid and hypertrophic scars as uses supported by clinical data, mostly older uncontrolled studies. EMA recognises traditional use to aid healing of minor wounds.2,1,5

  • WHO cites studies in which extracts were used on second- and third-degree burns; the trials are small and dated.2

  • WHO notes extracts have been given orally for stress-induced stomach and duodenal ulcers; evidence is limited to early studies.2

  • The WHO monograph records use for venous disorders in pharmacopoeias and traditional systems, rather than among clinically supported uses.2

  • WHO lists use as a 'brain tonic' among folk uses not supported by experimental or clinical data.2

Cómo se prepara

compress

A small amount of dried herb is infused in boiling water and the still-warm infusion is used to soak a dressing laid on the wound.

EMA monograph: 0.6 g herb per dressing, 3 times daily (1.8 g daily), adults only, for no more than 1 week.

Heridas y cortes

powder

Powdered herb dusted onto a minor wound.

EMA monograph: 0.6 g powder applied 3 times daily, adults only, up to 1 week.

Heridas y cortes

infusion

Dried herb taken by mouth as an infusion or powder.

WHO monograph (citing the Indian Pharmaceutical Codex and British Herbal Pharmacopoeia): 0.33–0.68 g, or an infusion of a similar amount, three times daily.

Circulación y varices

Las cantidades son las que registra la fuente citada, no una recomendación.

Seguridad

Embarazo
Datos insuficientes
Lactancia
Datos insuficientes
Niños
EMA: not recommended under 18 (lack of data).

No usar si

  • Allergy to plants of the carrot family (Apiaceae)
  • Liver disease (case reports of hepatitis with oral use)

Efectos secundarios

  • Allergic contact dermatitis from topical products (possibly due to other ingredients)
  • Rare hepatitis with oral use: three Argentinian women developed jaundice after 20–60 days, one with recurrence on rechallenge

En las tradiciones curativas

  • Traditional medicine (WHO monograph)

    Herba Centellae

    Pharmacopoeias and traditional systems record it for leprous ulcers and venous disorders; folk uses listed by WHO, without supporting evidence, run from asthma and epilepsy to use as a 'brain tonic'. Poultices used for bruises, closed fractures, sprains and boils.

Compuestos activos

asiaticoside
pentacyclic triterpene; one of the main active compounds
madecassoside
pentacyclic triterpene; one of the main active compounds
asiatic acid and madecassic acid
pentacyclic triterpene; one of the main active compounds

Historia

Centella has been called a 'panacea' used for some 3000 years. The WHO monograph's list of folk uses runs to dozens of conditions, while the uses it treats as clinically supported are wounds, burns, ulcerous skin conditions and scar prevention.

Fuentes

  1. 1.EMA/HMPC: European Union herbal monograph on Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., herba (revision 1)
  2. 2.WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants, vol. 1 (1999)
  3. 3.Jorge OA et al. Hepatotoxicity associated with the ingestion of Centella asiatica. Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2005
  4. 4.NIH LiverTox: Centella asiatica
  5. 5.Bylka W et al. Centella asiatica in dermatology: an overview. Phytother Res 2014

Referencia, no receta. Nada de esto es consejo médico. Las hierbas pueden interactuar con medicamentos y ser peligrosas en el embarazo; informa a tu médico o farmacéutico de todo lo que tomes.